Page 11 - C.A.L.L. #23 - Spring 2004
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Another thing was that I came to the kibbutz as several smaller houses. Gebers, which is an
part of a Swedish volunteer group, and I think ecological community in Stockholm has bought
that this group was very special in itself. and old hospital where they now live.
The third aspect was in terms of the politics. I Communities such as ours are mainly in the
have always been on the left side but my cities, with a few exceptions such as Gebers. But
experience on the kibbutz turned me into a there are other kinds of communities in the
socialist. Probably, partly because I saw that a countryside, like ecological villages and also
fair society can exist but also because I was small farms which are owned by groups.
captured by the idea of common work and
common ownership. I also believe that society as What is the average size of each house?
a whole would be a better and more fair society The average house have around 80-100 people
if the idea of the kibbutz was widely practised, living in the house.
adopted in each country according its special
Do you have many applicants wanting to join?
conditions. I have, since my time on the kibbutz,
What ages are they?
worked politically for almost 15 years in
Yes we have many applicants, especially now
different ways. In everything from party politics
when it is so difficult to get a flat
to the organization that I now
the kibbutz experience all in the big cities. All ages, except
live and work in. I would say
together made me a better older people, above 50. Mostly
that both my wife and I are
people who try to live according human being; less single people but also plenty of
families.
to our values, with all our faults. egoistic and more able to
We are no angels. Just ask Amos,
listen and have What about your younger
he knows how hard I have to
compassion for other generation? Do they want to join
keep time schedules.
people. your house or make new houses
of their own?
Finally, I have to say that the
Most of the young generation leave, but some of
kibbutz experience all together made me a better
them come back or join another community.
human being; less egoistic and more able to
Since our ideology is so loose, (I would like it to
listen and have compassion for other people. The
be different), we have no educational process,
kibbutz days were a turning point in my life.
apart from the seminars which we run, and this
What is the movement called? When was it makes it difficult in terms of continuity.
started?
Finally, after 18 years, the third community is
It is called Kollektivhus-Nu, which translated
now being built in the area of Gothenburg.
would be something like Co-housing-Now. It
was started at the end of the seventies, I think. Richard Jandel can be contacted on: rnm579y@tninet.se
EIGHTH ICSA CONFERENCE
Roughly how many members are there AMANA COLONIES, IOWA, USA
altogether? Roughly how many children? June 28-30, 2004
Only people over the age of 18 can be accepted Make plans to attend the 2004 ICSA conference at the Amana
as members and I would say that there are about Colonies, Iowa, USA. Proposal topics to date include:
2500 members. It is difficult to say how many - Hutterite parenting practices
children there are, since this is different from - Kibbutz youth and higher education
- Idealism and community
house to house.
- Amana history
- Motherhood in the kibbutz
Is each community situated in one big house? - Social ecology at Camphill
- Kibbutz identity
Are the communities only in the cities or also
- Communicating about intentional communities
in villages?
Usually it is one big house but it can also be For more information and registration see:
http://www.ic.org/icsa/conference.html
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